Swansea: League Position: 13th, League Form: DDWWL
The first Welsh side in Premier League history have adapted well to the demands of the top division, and having gone past the halfway stage of the season they are comfortable in 13th place. They have played good football in the face of bigger teams, not scared to play the style they want to play. Good young players have caught the eye of many, and they have garnered a lot of outside support.
Like many a promoted side they have used their home form as a platform to achieve. Five home wins, five draws and only one defeat has made the Liberty Stadium a tough place to come to, with only Manchester United winning there. Arsenal were disposed of fantastically, a 3-2 victory that showed all you need as a Premiership side. Coming from an early goal against to lead 2-1, Arsenal equalised halfway through the second half. Undeterred, Swansea scored within seconds of the restart and held on comfortably to take the three points.
The pace of Dyer, Sinclair and Graham up front is unnerving sides, and is always lovely to watch.
Chelsea: League Position: 4th, League Form: DLWWD
Chelsea look to be back on song again after another little wobble. After beating league leaders Mancheste City in mid December they then ended the year with consecutive draws against Wigan, Tottenham and Fulham, before home defeat to Aston Villa. Some good recent wins have kept them in fourth spot, but a draw in their last outing at Norwich showed how blunt they can be.
That draw could reflect massively on Chelsea’s ability to deal with Swansea midweek. Promoted sides should fear Chelsea, as they would have in years gone by, but this is not the Chelsea of old. Norwich were happy to soak up play and counter attack, never fearing to break out in their natural way. Swansea will be similar in that they will keep the ball and attack without fear.
It also may be interesting to note how Chelsea struggled to deal with Arsenal, who Swansea’s style is most similar to. And without Terry, Lampard or Ramires, this is a team lacking.
Match Prediction: Swansea Win – 4.75 Stan James
Swansea are a big price to beat Chelsea here, and it is definitely the value bet of the midweek fixtures. They disposed of Arsenal with more ease than the 3-2 scoreline suggests, and will play a brand of football Chelsea cannot adapt to do, a passing game with attacking intent.
Chelsea have struggled with pace all season, and their defence has looked all at sea at times. Now they head into a game faced with the likes of Dyer and Sinclair running at them, with Graham working like a mad man up front, all without leader and captain John Terry. Can Gary Cahill and David Luiz prove themselves here? Both inconsistent defenders, they will give a chance or two away.
And still the Blues attack is blunt. Torres still has not found himself in a Chelsea shirt as the man he once was, and without Lampard or Drogba it is down to Sturridge and Mata to do it all for them. Torres has now failed to score in his last 17 games for club and country, a total of over 15 hours of football. His last league goal came against Swansea on 24 September. Yet Chelsea have only failed to score in two games this season, against the other two promoted sides QPR and in the last game against Norwich.
Scott Sinclair returns to the club that never seemed to want him, loaning him out for years before finally getting rid. Penalty taker and attacking threat, a first goal could be on the cards.
Highlighted Bets:-
Over/Under: Over 2.5 Goals – 2.05 Bet 365
First Goalscorer: Scott Sinclair – 11.00 Scott Sinclair
Correct Score: 2-1 Swansea – 17.00 Blue Sq
*Click here for all the latest odds on upcoming football matches
Online Betting King © 2023